Commercial Dispute Resolution
UK Bar Guide 2025 : London (Bar)
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+44 207 910 8300Chambers Review
A strong set with pronounced litigation experience across the commercial market that boasts widely recognised barristers capable of handling complex pieces of litigation. The lawyers here display particular acumen for cases involving shipping and insurance. Recent examples include: London International Exhibition Centre v Allianz Insurance PLC & Others, a claim arising out of business interruption losses caused by COVID-19; and SC BTA Bank v Various, proceedings in the BVI concerning a USD231 million fraud. The set also has a huge contingent of members advising on the Russian aircraft claims. One source comments: “This is a sophisticated set with a deep bench of talent.”
Greg Leyden is the senior clerk.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Senior Clerk Greg Leyden has a wealth of experience and knows what he is talking about. He is always happy to help."
"Joint Deputy Senior Clerks Gary Rose and Eddie Johns are excellent, very responsive and a true pleasure to work with."
"The clerks at 7BKW, especially Joe Clayton, are friendly, responsive and very adept at liaising with the court. They become part of the team, working together with you to get a result for the client."
"A strong clerking team that is quick to attend to complex matters."
"Senior Clerk Greg Leyden has a wealth of experience and knows what he is talking about. He is always happy to help."
"Joint Deputy Senior Clerks Gary Rose and Eddie Johns are excellent, very responsive and a true pleasure to work with."
"The clerks at 7BKW, especially Joe Clayton, are friendly, responsive and very adept at liaising with the court. They become part of the team, working together with you to get a result for the client."
"A strong clerking team that is quick to attend to complex matters."
Notable Practitioners
"Undoubtedly one of the leading commercial silks at the Bar today. His attention to detail is second to none, as is his legal analysis."
"Gavin Kealey is probably one of the most talented and experienced counsel in the market."
"Gavin is a fantastic appellate advocate, who is great at arguing complex legal questions."
"Absolutely masterful."
"Gavin is fantastic on his feet. He develops arguments beautifully and he just has extreme skill in terms of knowing the intricacies of the case."
"Focused on reading the judge, she thinks on her feet and adapts her arguments well."
"He has a first-class brain."
"Very knowledgeable and very bright, he is commercially astute and great to work with."
"Very tactically astute, meticulous and hard-working."
"David is very focused, very practical, very structured and very ordered."
"Impressive in cross-examination and persuasive in his advocacy."
"James consistently impresses. He is sharp, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to matters, and is able to distil difficult legal issues into clear and persuasive submissions."
"He is extremely bright, very proactive and highly commercially minded."
"His advice is clear and pragmatic, and he is very good at finding a way through knotty problems."
"He is very polished and has a good way of presenting things."
"Keir is an excellent advocate who is very responsive, efficient and helpful."
"His written work is good; it reads very well."
"His advocacy is very effective."
"Very good attention to detail and very strong preparation."
"A safe pair of hands and extremely enjoyable to work with."
"Richard's advocacy, both written and on his feet, is of exceptional quality and he is entirely fair and detailed in all of his submissions. He pays enormous attention to detail."
"Clara Benn is a very strong junior counsel. She has excellent communication skills and is a pleasure to work with."
"She really sees through complicated contractual arguments, identifying the heart of the issue and coming back with very cogent advice and very robust reactions to what the other side are saying."
"Jason's written work product is always outstanding; he always cuts through to the point straight away."
"Very user-friendly and practical, Jason is a very good junior who can lead cases on his own."
"He is very well prepared and incisive in terms of giving advice in consultation."
"Technically superb, whilst also being extremely engaging and client-focused, Jawdat is always an absolute pleasure to work with. His advice is always extremely clear and practical."
"Jo Higgs is quite simply brilliant. She knows her cases inside-out and is exceptionally involved in the detail."
"She's phenomenal in terms of her technical detail and her intellect. She is also fantastic in terms of client service."
"Michael Holmes is a brilliant technical lawyer and a go-to for complex questions of law and procedure. He is exceptionally responsive and a pleasure to work with."
"Tim is very able and hands-on; he is prepared to get stuck in and do the work."